Prime Minister Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Japan, paid tributes to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, whose birth anniversary on August 29 is commemorated annually as National Sports Day.
File Photo: IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the country in extending greetings on National Sports Day, and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to fostering a culture of sports and fitness, strengthening institutional support for athletes and expanding access to modern training and competition venues across the country.
Prime Minister Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Japan, paid tributes to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, whose birth anniversary on August 29 is commemorated annually as National Sports Day.
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Dhyan Chand, who guided India to three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936 with his unmatched stickwork and goal-scoring ability, continues to inspire generations of Indians, and the The Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi stands as a lasting tribute to the legend.
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“Greetings on National Sports Day! On this special occasion, we pay tribute to Major Dhyan Chand Ji, whose excellence continues to inspire generations.”
“In the last decade, India’s sporting landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation. From grassroots programmes that nurture young talent to creating world-class facilities, we are seeing a vibrant sports ecosystem in our nation. Our government remains committed to supporting athletes, building infrastructure and making India a global hub for sporting excellence,” he added.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya attended a commemorative ceremony at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium alongside several sportspersons. Echoing the words of PM Modi, Mandaviya said the recently passed National Sports Governance Bill will boost India’s push to become a sporting powerhouse.
“By passing the Sports Governance Bill, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has worked towards placing India among the top sporting nations,” he remarked while underlining the government’s long-term sporting vision.
“Our vision is to make a sporting powerhouse by 2047,” he added, stressing the roadmap for talent development and infrastructure growth.
Mandaviya inaugurates India’s first Mondo Track
Mandaviya on Friday also inaugurated India’s first-ever Mondo Track at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, here. The upcoming World Para-Athletics Championships, scheduled from September 26 to October 5, will be the first major event held on the new surface.
With this installation, India has become the 25th nation to adopt the world-class track surface, which is already in use at leading global events, including the Olympic Games.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by World Championships bronze medallist and former long jumper Anju Bobby George, two-time Paralympic champion and PCI president Devendra Jhajharia, along with Paralympic medal winners Sumit Antil, Preethi Pal and Simran Sharma.
The Mondo track is made of two-layered vulcanised rubber and is recognised for its uniform elasticity, shock absorption and anti-slip properties, which enhance athlete performance while reducing the risk of injury.
Hailing the development as a landmark moment for Indian sport, Mandaviya said, “It’s a great moment for the nation and we are all proud today that India now has its own Mondo Track. In the coming months it will host its first competition and India will now formally bid for the CWG 2030 and Olympics 2036 and hopefully get the nod.”
Jhajharia, too, expressed his joy at the inauguration. “I always wanted to throw a javelin on a Mondo Track as a player but today, seeing this track finally inaugurated is a proud feeling as an administrator. It will only help Indian athletes grow,” he said.
He also extended his wishes on the occasion of National Sports Day. “I also would like to wish the people of this country a very Happy National Sports Day, today we all took an oath to stay and make India fit”.
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